STEM education classes are getting more popular by the day! These enriching courses typically teach students problem-solving, teamwork, creative thinking, and much more. Luckily for you and your children, it’s now possible to bring STEM learning home.
While you may not be able to teach your little ones how to code, you do have the ability to teach problem-solving and teamwork...all within your home! And no, we’re not talking about solving the mysteries of Tiger King with them (because 1. They’re not old enough quite yet, and 2. No one will ever know the truth).
Whether you’re looking for online classes, DIY activities, or fun STEM related books for kids, the team at Sawyer has rounded up some great options for you.
Online STEM classes for kids
Sometimes it’s nice to leave it up to the professionals! The amount of online classes for STEM is vast, and it can be hard to figure out what to look for when you’re choosing a class. We’ve pulled together some of our most popular classes on Sawyer Online.
NORY (3 - 12 years old)
All NORY programs take the project-based, experiential learning approach to develop these soft skills. If you want your child to design the future, rather than follow it, join us. NORY is currently offering free online coding classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Brooklyn Game Lab (4 - 17 years old)
Think outside of the (game) box and learn how to analyze, discuss and experiment with games in small groups! With Brooklyn Game Lab, kids are encouraged to develop critical-thinking skills like risk and resource management, the art of negotiation and deduction, and long-term planning.
iCamp (4 - 13 years old)
Children will work with live instructors through comprehensive, fun, and engaging courses on topics like coding, 3D printing, graphic design, video game design, animation, and more!
QuantumCamp (6 - 14 years old)
QuantumCamp delivers science and math curriculum to thousands of students. Explore their courses online in a fun and interactive format!
STEM Kids NYC (0 - 18+ years old)
STEM Kids NYC bridges the gap between the current school curriculum and the immediate need for schools to prepare students for STEM skills and for jobs that do not yet exist.
Robofun (3 - 12 years old)
Your child will learn about engineering, coding, and creative thinking. The work is based on children’s innate passion and curiosity, allowing children to become makers and designers.
After School Brilliance (ages 2 - 16 years old)
After School Brilliance offers enriching and engaging science, technology, robotics, engineering, art, coding and math programs to young children. After School Brilliance aims to inspire, nurture and grow the critical and emerging skills necessary for success in our digital workforce.
STEM Center USA (5 - 18+ years)
A Sound Start is the perfect place where your Little Musician can begin his/her music journey. You get to learn about your child, nurture him/her as he/she grows, and connect with other supportive families, solidifying their connections in your community.
Looking to explore STEM activities and online coding classes for kids? Search and book virtual classes here!
Indoor STEM activities for kids
Looking to unplug for some offline family fun? Here are a few ideas from our community about how to incorporate STEM learning into your little one’s day!
Build a boat (that floats!)
For this activity, all you need is a square of aluminum foil! The goal is to build a strong boat that floats. Let your little ones craft the next titanic (well..hopefully not just like the titanic) Go ahead and test your boat with added weight too. Once built, let it loose in the open sea (AKA a bath or a sink)! Stock it full of passengers like pennies and buttons to see the weight it can withstand.
Build a paper bridge.
Paper bridges are engineering masterpieces, and if constructed correctly can lead to hours of fun. All you’ll need are stacks of books, pennies, paper, and a couple pieces of tape. Challenge your little architect to build a bridge that spans the gap between two stacks of books, then test the weight of the bridge with pennies! You can take it a step further by building along countertops and seeing how long you can make your bridge.
Make a marble run!
A quick and easy activity that doesn’t require much space. Our friends at the League of Young Inventors have the best tutorials to make these fun tracks at home. Check out the free instructions here!
Discover pushing and pulling forces.
This is perfect for exploring forces with young engineers. Build ramps and test objects. Explore what happens when one object pushes into another object or when two things collide! Focus on how speed and direction change with different forces, and observe what happens when bigger pushes or pulls are exerted on an object.
Our favorite STEM books for kids
Looking for books that will get your little ones thinking like scientists? We've put together a list of some our favorites. And don't worry, all of them have been personally vetted by the children at Sawyer.
Ada Twist, Scientists
Ada is a curious girl who loves questions, problem-solving, science, and experiments (even in time out!). Readers will be inspired by her enthusiastic love of learning and laugh along at her daring experiments.
How machines work: Zoo Break!
Pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, and levers encourage kids to get involved in this STEM adventure story about two animals, Sloth and Sengi, who try to escape the zoo using simple machines.
The Most Magnificent Thing
Just like STEM makers and inventors in real life, this little girl learns that success is based on frustration, failure, and determination. And unlikely mentors. Because when the girl is so sick of failure and gives up, it’s her dog who encourages her to try again.
Nick and Tesla Series
Nick and Tesla, 11-year old twins, are budding inventors and detectives who live with their inattentive scientist uncle Newt. Each story is an action-packed mystery to solve using science and technology.
Violet the Pilot
By the time she’s two years old, Violet Van Winkle can fix nearly any appliance in the house. And by eight she’s building elaborate flying machines from scratch—mind-boggling contraptions such as the Tubbubbler, the Bicycopter, and the Wing-a-ma-jig.
